The hosting rights for the 2027 and 2031 men’s Rugby World Cups will be awarded at the same time after a new set of rules governing the holding of major tournaments were announced last week.
The hosts will be unveiled in May 2022, when those for the 2025 and 2029 women’s tournaments will also be decided, World Rugby said in a statement issued to the press.
Current favourites to clinch the 2027 hosting rights, Australia feel the tournament should return to the Southern Hemispehere after what will be a sixteen year gap.
Their only serious rival is thought to be Russia after South Africa pulled out of the race.
According to the Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, SA Rugby, who bid for the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, can no longer afford to host the tournament, therefore it wouldn’t make sense to bid.
5 pairs of rugby players you didn’t know are related
1. Ben & Tom Curry and John & Sam Olver
The Curry twins are the nephew of former England hooker John Olver and cousins of former Northampton Saints fly-half Sam Olver, who is now at Ealing Trailfinders.